Mr. Grimm (for
himself, Mr. Michaud,
Mr. King of New York, and
Mr. Lance) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out
a pilot program on dog training therapy.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the
Veterans Dog Training Therapy
Act.

2.

Department of
Veterans Affairs pilot program on dog training therapy

(a)

In
general

Commencing not later
than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program for the purpose of assessing
the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and
post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of
training service dogs for veterans with disabilities.

(b)

Duration of
pilot program

The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall
be carried out at least three and not more than five Department of Veterans
Affairs medical centers during the five-year period beginning on the date of
the commencement of the pilot program.

(c)

Locations of
pilot program

In selecting medical centers for the pilot program
required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that each medical
center selected provides a training area for educating veterans with mental
health conditions in the art and science of service dog training and handling.
Such training area shall—

(1)

include a
dedicated space that is suitable for grooming and training dogs indoors;

(2)

be wheelchair
accessible;

(3)

include classroom
or lecture space;

(4)

include office
space for staff;

(5)

include a suitable
space for storing training equipment;

(6)

provide for
periodic use of other training areas for training the dogs with wheelchairs and
conducting other exercises;

(7)

include outdoor
exercise and toileting space for dogs; and

(8)

provide
transportation for weekly field trips to train dogs in other
environments.

(d)

Design of pilot
program

In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the
Secretary shall—

(1)

administer the
program through the Recreation Therapy Service of the Department of Veterans
Affairs under the direction of a certified recreational therapist with
sufficient administrative experience to oversee all pilot program sites;

(2)

establish, for
purposes of overseeing the training of dogs at medical centers selected for the
pilot program, a director of service dog training with a background working in
social services, experience in teaching others to train service dogs in a
vocational setting, and at least one year of experience working with veterans
or active duty service members with post-traumatic stress disorder in a
clinical setting;

(3)

ensure that each
pilot program site has certified service dog training instructors;

(4)

ensure that in selecting assistance dogs
for use in the program, dogs residing in animal shelters or foster homes are
looked at as an option, if appropriate, and ensure that all dogs used in the
program have adequate temperament and health clearances;

(5)

ensure that each service dog in training
participating in the pilot program is taught all essential commands pertaining
to service dog skills;

(6)

ensure that each service dog in training
lives at the pilot program site or a volunteer foster home in the vicinity of
such site while receiving training;

(7)

ensure that the
pilot program involves both lecture of service dog training methodologies and
practical hands-on training and grooming of service dogs; and

(8)

ensure that the pilot program is designed
to—

(A)

maximize the
therapeutic benefits to veterans participating in the program; and

(B)

provide
well-trained service dogs to veterans with disabilities.

(e)

Veteran
eligibility

A veteran with
post-traumatic stress disorder or other post-deployment mental health condition
may volunteer to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a) if the
Secretary determines that there are adequate program resources available for
such veteran at the pilot program site. Veterans may participate in the pilot
program in conjunction with the compensated work therapy program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.

(f)

Hiring
preference

In hiring service dog training instructors under the
pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give a preference to
veterans who have successfully graduated from post-traumatic stress disorder or
other residential treatment programs and who have received adequate
certification in service dog training.

(g)

Collection of
data

The Secretary shall collect data on the pilot program
required under subsection (a) to determine how effective the program is for the
veterans participating in the program. Such data shall include data to
determine how effectively the program assists veterans in—

exposing the dog
to new environments and in doing so, helping the veteran reduce social
isolation and withdrawal;

(8)

building
relationship skills, including parenting skills;

(9)

relaxing the
hyper-vigilant survival state;

(10)

improving sleep
patterns; and

(11)

enabling veterans
to decrease the use of pain medication.

(h)

Reports to
Congress

Not later than one year after the date of the
commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a), and each year
thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the pilot program. Each such report shall include—

(1)

the number of
veterans participating in the pilot program;

(2)

a
description of the services carried out by the Secretary under the pilot
program;

(3)

the effects that
participating in the pilot program has on the following—

potentially
relevant physiological markers that possibly relate to the interactions with
the service dogs;

(C)

family
dynamics;

(D)

insomnia and pain
management; and

(E)

overall well
being; and

(4)

the
recommendations of the Secretary with respect to the extension or expansion of
the pilot program.

(i)

Definition

For
the purposes of this section, the term service dog training
instructor means an instructor who provides the direct training of
veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other post-deployment issues
in the art and science of service dog training and handling.